Bolting mechanism for safes or vaults.



No. 788,105. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905.

H. D. HIBBARD.

BOLTING MECHANISM FOR SAPES OR VAULTS.

APPLIOATION FILED OUT 15, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' ,5 z or W W.

No. 788,105. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905. H. D. HIBBARD.

BOLTING MECHANISM FOR SAFES 0R VAULTS.

APPLIGATION FILED 00513.16, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented April 25, 1905.

UNHED STATES ATENT Fries.

HENRY l). HIBBAKD, OF PLAINFIELI), NE\V JERSEY. ASSHlNOh TO MAN- (wirNl lSl l STEEL SAFE COMPANY, OF NFAV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BOLTING MECHANISM FOR SAFES OR VAULTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,105, dated April 25, 1905.

Application filed October 16,1903. Serial No. 177,250.

To 107/ 11-71mm it 7114/,1 (3011130771,:

Be it known that [,Hnxnr Dnuixe l-lnanaan, a citizen of the United States, residingin Plainlield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey. have invented certain new and useful improvements in Bolting Mechanism for Safes or Yaults, of which the following is a specification.

This improvement relates to the bolting mechanism of safes or vaults. the object of i view of one form of door provided with this improved bolting mechanism, a part of the back plate being broken away. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof, taken in line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of parts of a pair of bolts, illustrating in detail this improved locking means. Fig. & is a sectional view, taken in line b b, Fig. 3, illustrating a detail of this locking means; and Figs. and e are views of further details thereof.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The circular door, which may be similar to that shown and described in my prior patents --for instance, Patent No. (562,'-L35although the bolting mechanism could be used in connection with other forms of doors, if desired, comprises a body 2, having a flange 3,

provided with the usual bolt-openings t for dead-center position, the tendency ot such the passage of the bolts, the size of the door regulating the number of the bolts. The boltopenings are shown as tapered at one or the under side to permit the rocking of the bolts during their radial movement. For throwing these bolts they are pivotally connected at their inner ends to a worm disk or wheel 5, i shown supported by a luck-plate 6, bolted to the door-flange. The wormteeth of this disk are in mesh with a worm 7, formed on a shaft 8,and which worm-shaft carries a looselymounted bevel-gear 9, having a part of its hub formed as a clutch member 10, and which bevel-gear 9 is in mesh with a similarlyformed bevel-gear 12, located on the inner end of the spindle 13, which projects through the body of the door and by means of which the bevel-gears are turned and when connected up with the worm-shaft the wormshaft, and thereby the worm-wheel, and the bolts thrown or withdrawn.

For connecting the loosely-mounted bevelgear with the shaft the clutch member 14: is splined to the worm-shaft and connected with a suitable clutch-shifter 15, having connection with a lever system 16, connected with a combination lock 17 or looks. The boss 18 is a centrally-locatml one cast or rigid with the door, preferably cast therewith, especially when the door is formed of hard or unmachineable metal-such, for instance, as manganese steel and is in such position that when the bolts are thrown outwardly the inner ends thereof will be in engagement with such boss. To insure the effectiveness of this boss, it is essential either that the bolts when they are thrown outward be in a dead-center position with relation to a line passing through the axis of the boss that is to say, a line passing through the axis of such boss should also intersect the longitudinal axis of the bolts or else the bolts be so organized or constructed that one cannot move or shift independently of the other whereby the ends will be maintained in engagement with such boss. \Vhen the bolts are not organized or constructed to engage each other at their inner ends and it is not desired to throw them to a bolts, especially those located in a horizontal or approximately horizontal position, is to drop down past the boss when the door is placed under considerable force or continuous vibration, thus making it eventually possible to work the door open. To increase the effectiveness of the boss without the necessity of throwing the bolts into a dead-center position, the bolts are in the present instance so formed and organized that they will be in contact with each other at all times. This may be accomplished by providing the shank of each bolt with a member bolted or secured thereto or by forming the bolt-shanks with projecting portions 19, adapted to engage companion bolts. By this means it will be seen that as the bolts are pivoted to a wormwheel or rocking plate and are in engagement one with another throughout the entire series .the boss is eflective to accomplish the object desired, notwithstanding the bolts when protracted are not in a dead-center position with such boss, since as each bolt is in engagement with its companion bolt the shanks thereof cannot drop down past the boss, so that such boss is efiective to prevent the inward movement or withdrawal of the bolts in a manner readily understood.

, To prevent the retraction of the bolts by the use of explosives, should the bolt-actuating means or the worm-shaft be thrown out of place suitable looking or dogging mechanism for the bolts is provided. This means will also tend to prevent the rotation of the worm-shaft by vibration. One of such devices is efi'ective; but in the organization shown a pair of such devices 22 and 23 are provided, shown oppositely located. A description of one will, however, be suificient, as they are similar in construction and operation. This looking or dogging device in the present instance comprises a sliding wedge 24, working at one side or edge of one of the bolts 11, which may be vof any suitable construction, guiding means being provided to maintain the sliding wedge in position-such, for instance, as a tongue or groove connected. The bolt in the present instance is provided with a slideway 25, corresponding to a slide 26, formed on or fitted to the wedge, whereby the wedge is properly guided to and fro in its movements and prevented fromworking away from the bolt. Pivotally secured to the inner end of this wedge is a lever 27, the inner end of which is provided with an opening by means of which it may be pivoted to a companion bolt, 11, and for this purpose in the present instance the worm-wheel 5 is provided with a pivot 28, having two diameters, that part having the largest diameter projecting through an opening in the shank of the bolt 11 and that part having the smallest diameter projecting through the opening in the lever 27, the end of which is located in the form shown between the bolt and the body of the door.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the worm-wheel is rotated to withdraw the bolts as the bolt to which the lever 27 is pivoted commences to move it pulls the wedge slightly inward, thereby permitting the bolt which was wedged to move. In other words,

the organization is such that the wedge is retracted slightly before any longitudinal movement is imparted to the bolt carrying the wedge. This is due to the fact that the pivoted ends of the bolts move through the arc of a circle an appreciable distance before any lengthwise movement is imparted to the bolts. In other words, the bolts first swing a certain distance before they move lengthwise, and during this swinging movement the wedge is moved sufliciently to permit the bolts to be withdrawn during the swinging and lengthwise movement of the bolts. Should the back plate, shown bolted to the flange, be blown off by high explosives and the worm-wheel become dislocated, this improved organization renders it impracticable to withdraw the bolts, and to make the locking means more effective a locking device is provided for locking the wedge against retraction. When the wormwheel is thrown out of position, the lever 27, will be disconnected from its bolt 11, as its pivot 28 is aheadless one, and will therefore be withdrawn from the opening in the lever 27, thus leaving the wedge free. To prevent the possible jarring of the wedge out of its wedging position, the locking device referred to is provided. This locking device 30 is shown connected by a headed pin 31 with the back plate by means of a bar 32 and comprises a locking part or head 33, located in a recess formed in the bolt 11 and normally resting free of the wedge. If, however, the back plate is forced off, it pulls the bar 32 with it,

which in turn pulls the pin backward or outwardly, thereby carrying the locking part 33 into engagement with the wedge, and so lock it against retraction. The head is maintained in its locking position by forming the pin of small diameter, whereby it will be bent when the back plate is forced off, and so prevent the head returning to its normal position, or by providing such head with spring 34 maintained in a recess or slot and operative to spring out and engage a notch or recess 35 in the wall of the bolt 11, and so prevent the return of the head to its normal position. Both of these means may be used together or other means used, if preferred.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by this improved organization of bolting mechanism when the bolts are thrown outwardly they are wedged in such position against withdrawal, and should the back plate and the operating mechanism be blown into the interior of the safe by the use of high explosives the wedge will be locked in its locking position, and consequently the retraction of the bolts not be possible by a burglar.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a safe or vault door, the combination of a plurality of bolts, in edgewise contact one with the other, and a device located centrally of the door for preventing the retraction of said bolts.

2. In a safe or vault door, the combination of a plurality of bolts having their inner edges in contact one with the other, and a boss located centrally of the door for preventing the retraction of said bolts.

In a safe or vault door, the combination of a plurality of bolts, each having its inner end constructed to contact with a companion bolt at the edge thereof, throughout the movements of said bolts, and means in position to engage the inner ends of said bolts to prevent the retraction thereof.

1. In a safe or vault door, the combination of a plurality of bolts each provided with means to contact with a companion bolt at its edge,tln*oughout the movements of such bolts, means in engagement with the inner ends of said bolts for preventing the retraction thereof, and means for rocking said bolts to shift the same radially.

5. In a safe or vault door the combination of bolting mechanism comprising a series of bolts having their inner ends located in a circle, and in contact with one another throughout said circle.

6. In a safe or vault door, the combination of bolting mechanism comprising a circular series of bolts one in contact with another throughout said series and means for rocking said bolts thereby to shift the same radially.

T. In a safe or vault door, the combination of bolting mechanism comprising a series of bolts having their inner ends located in a circle. one in contact with another throughout said series, and means for engaging said bolts to prevent the retraction thereof.

,8. In a safe or vault door the combination of bolting mechanism comprising a series of circularly-located bolts constructed to contact one with another throughout said series, and a boss rigid with the door and in position to be engaged by the inner ends of the bolts and prevent the retraction thereof.

9. ln a safe or vault door the combination of bolting mechanism comprising series of circularly-located bolts constructed to contact one with another throughout said series, and a boss integral with the door and in position to be engaged by the inner end of the bolts and prevent the retraction thereof, and means for rocking said bolts to shift the same radially.

10. Acircularsafeorvaultdoorconstructed of hard unmachineable metal, and comprising an integral body and flange, the latter having bolt-openings, a circular series of radiallylo cated bolts constructed to contact with one another throughout the series, and means connet-ting all of said bolts together for sunultaneous movement in or out.

11. A circular safe or vault door constructed of hard unmachineable metal, and comprising an integral body and flange, the latter having bolt-openings, a circular series of radially-located bolts constructed to contact with one another throughout the series, means connecting all of said bolts together for simultaneous movement in or out, and a centrally-located device integral with the door and in position to engage the inner ends of the bolts and prevent the retraction thereof.

12. In a safe or vault door, the combination of a plurality of bolts each constructed to contact with the edge of a companion bolt throughout the movements of such bolts, and means connecting all of said bolts together for simultaneous movement.

13. The combination with a circular safe or vault door, of a plurality of bolts having their inner ends constructed to contact with one another throughout the movements of the bolts, and means for maintaining such permanent engagement and efi'ective to shift said bolts into and out of their protracted position and comprising a rocking plate.

11. The combination with a circular safe or vault door, of a plurality of bolts having their inner ends constructed to contact with one another throughout the movements of such bolts, means for maintaining such permanent engagement and effective to shift said bolts into and outof their protracted position, and means rigid with the door and in position to engage the inner ends of said bolts to prevent the' withdrawal thereof.

15. The combination with a safe or vault door, of bolts projecting at the several sides of such door, the inner ends of all of such bolts constructed to contact with each other throughout the shifting thereof.

16. The combination with a safe or vault door, of bolts projecting at the several sides of such door, the inner ends of all of such bolts constructed to contact with each other throughout the shifting thereof, and means for maintaining such bolts in contact and for shifting them.

17. The combination with a safe or vault door, of bolts projecting at the several sides of such door, the inner ends of all of such bolts constructed to contact with each other throughout the shifting thereof, and means adapted to be engaged by the inner ends of such bolts to prevent the retraction thereof.

18. The combination with a safe or vault door, of bolts projecting at the several sides thereof, the inner ends of the several bolts being enlarged to contact one with the other throughout the entire series thereof.

19. In a safe or vault door the combination of bolting mechanism, and means for preventing the retraction of the bolts thereof and comprising a device having contact with one only of several of such bolts.

20. .In a safe or vault door, the combination of bolting mechanism, and means for preventing the retraction of the bolts thereof and com prising a wedge located between and to contact with one of the bolts and the wall of its opening.

21. The combination of bolting mechanism,

a device located between and in contact with one of the bolts and the wall of the opening to prevent the retraction of the bolts, and means for automatically shifting such device to permit the withdrawal of the bolts.

2 2. The combination of bolting mechanism, a device Working in conjunction with one only of the bolts to prevent the retraction of such bolts, and means connected with said device and with a part of said bolting mechanism for controlling the movement of the device and permit the retraction of the bolts.

23. In asafe or vault door the combination of bolting mechanism, a device located between and in contact with one of the bolts and the door-wall of its opening and connected with a companion bolt and effective to prevent the retraction of the bolts.

24. In a safe or vault door, the combination of bolting mechanism, a device cooperating with one of the bolts to prevent the retraction of the bolts, and connected with another of said bolts with which it does not primarily cooperate as a locking means, for effecting the release of the bolts to permit the retraction thereof.

25. In a safe or vault door the combination of bolting mechanism, a wedge cooperating with one of the bolts to prevent the retraction of the bolts, and connected with another of said bolts with which such wedge does not primarily cooperate as alocking means to permit the shifting of such bolts.

26. The combination of a plurality of bolts located to project in different directions, and a device located at one side of and in engagement with one only of several such bolts to prevent the retraction of all of the bolts.

27. The combination with a safe or vault door having independent and separated boltopenings, of a bolt working in each of such openings, and a device located in one of said openings and cooperating with the bolt located in such opening to prevent the retraction of all of said bolts.

28. The combination with a safe or vault door having a plurality of independent and separated bolt-openings, of bolt mechanism comprising bolts located one in each of said openings, a wedge working in one of said openings and cooperating with the bolt located therein to prevent the retraction of said bolts, said means having connection with amovable part of the bolt mechanism to shift such wedge and permit the retraction of the bolts.

29. The combination with a safe or vault door having a bolt-opening, a bolt working therein, one of said parts having an inclined wall or surface, a wedge engaging at one side the wall of the bolt-opening and at the other side the bolt so that said wedge lies between a fixed surface and a movable surface for wedging such bolt against retraction, and means for releasing the wedge thereby to permit retraction of the bolt.

30. In a safe or vault door, the combination of bolting mechanism, means for preventing the retraction of thebolts,and means operative independently of any operation of the bolts or of lock mechanism to lock said means against movement.

31. In a safe or vault door, the combination of bolting mechanism, means for locking said bolts against withdrawal, and comprising one or more wedges cooperating with said bolts, and means operative independently of any operation of the bolts or of lock mechanism to lock said wedge or wedges against movement.

32. The combination of a bolt, a wedge cooperating with said bolt to prevent retraction thereof, means for automatically shifting said wedge to permit the retraction of said bolt, and means operative independently of any operation of said bolt or of lock mechanism to lock said wedge against movement.

33. The combination of a pair of bolts, a wedge cooperating with one of said bolts, to prevent the retraction of said bolts, means connecting said wedge with the other of said bolts thereby to shift said wedge to permit the retraction of the bolts, and means operative independently of any operation of said bolts or of lock mechanism for locking said wedge against movement.

.34. The combination of bolting mechanism, a device cooperating with one of the bolts to prevent the retraction of the bolts, means connected with said device and with a part of the bolting mechanism for shifting said device to permit the retraction of the bolts, and means operative independently of any operation of the bolts or of lock mechanism for locking said device against movement.

35. The combination with a safe or vault door, having a plurality of independent and separated bolt-openings, bolt mechanism comprising bolts located one in each of said openings, a device working in one of said openings and effective to prevent retraction of said bolts, means for connecting said device with another of said bolts, whereby the bolts may be released to permit their retraction, and means for locking said means against movement at a predetermined time.

36. The combination of a safe or vault door having a bolt-opening provided with an inclined surface, a bolt working therein, a wedge cooperating with said surface and with the bolt for wedging the bolt against retraction,

means for releasing said wedge thereby to i permit the retraction of the bolt, and means for locking the wedge against retraction.

37. In a safe or vault door, the combination of bolting mechanism, a device cooperating with one of the bolts to prevent retraction of the bolts and connected with a companion bolt, with which it does not primarily cooperate as a locking means, for effecting the release of the bolts, and means for locking said device against movement.

38. A safe or vault door having a back plate, bolt mechanism, means for locking the bolts against withdrawal and comprising one or more wedges, and means for locking said wedge or wedges against retraction and having connection with the back plate.

39. In a safe or vaultdoor, the combination of a bolt, a wedge, having a tongue-and-groove connection with said belt, for preventing the retraction thereof, means for automatic: lly shitting said wedge to permit the retraction ot'said bolt, and means for holding-said wedge against movement and embodying a spring.

%O. The combination with a safe or vault door having a plurality of bolt-openings and a back plate, bolt mechanism comprising bolts located one in each of said openings, means working in one of said openings to prevent the retraction of said bolts, said means having connection with a movable part of the bolt mechanism, whereby the bolts may be released to permit their retraction, and a device for locking said means against movement at a predetermined time, said locking device having connection with the back plate of the door.

4:1. The combination of a circular door having a plurality of tapered bolt-openings, bolts working one in each of said openings, and a wedge located at the side of one of said bolts and working in its opening and connected with a companion bolt whereby on the retraction of said bolts the wedge will be withdrawn, and means for locking said wedge against retraction at a predetermined time.

T2. The combination of a circular door having a plurality of tapered bolt-openings, bolts working one in each of said openings, a wedge located at the side of one of said bolts and working in its opening and connected with a companion bolt whereby on the retraction of said bolts the wedge will be withdrawn, and means for locking said wedge against retraction at a predetermined time, and connected with a part of the door.

-.t3. The combination of a circular door having a plurality of bolt-openings, bolts located one in each of said openings, a back plate secured to the door, a locking-wedge working in one of said openings and connected with one of the bolts for movement with the bolts, and a locking device for preventing the re traction of said wedge and connected with the back plate whereby when the back plate is forced away from the door the wedge will be locked against retraction.

it. The combination of a circular door having a plurality of bolt-openings located around the same, bolts working one in each of said openings, the inner ends of said bolts constructed to engage each other, means cooperating with the inner ends of said bolts for preventing the withdrawal thereof, means for rocking said bolts thereby to shift the same radially, locking means for preventing the retraction of said bolts and comprising a wedge working in one of the bolt-openings, and connected with a companion bolt, and means for locking said wedge against retraction at a predetermined period, said means having connection with a part of the door.

45. The combination of a circular door having a back plate and a plurality of tapered bolt-openings, bolts working one in each of said openings, the inner ends of said bolts constructed to engage each other, an integral boss cooperating with the inner ends of said bolts for preventing the withdrawal thereof, means for rocking said bolts thereby to shift the same radially, a locking-wedge working in one of the bolt-openings for preventing the retraction of said bolts and connected with a companion bolt, and means 't'orlockingsaid wedge against retraction at a predetermined period, and having connection with the back plate.

46. The combination with a safe or vault door havinga back plate, of bolting mechanism,n1eans independent of lock-dogging mechanism for locking the bolting mechanism against retraction, and means for lockingsaid means against movement and connected with the back plate.

47. The combination of safe or vault door bolting mechanism, means for locking the same against retraction and comprising a wedge cooperating with one of said bolts, and shifted by another of said bolts, and means for locking said wedge against retraction, said means having connection with a fixture carried by the door.

48. The combination of safe or vault door bolting mechanism, the bolts having their inner ends in engagement, means for engaging therewith, and means independent of lockdogging mechanism for locking the bolts against retraction.

49. The combination of safe or vault door bolting mechanism, the bolts havingtheir inner ends in engagement, means for engaging the inner ends of said bolts to prevent their retraction, and means for locking the bolts against retraction and comprising a wedge cooperating with one of said bolts, and shifted by another of said bolts.

50. The combination with a bolt having a recess, of means for locking said bolt against retraction, and a locking device carried in said recess for locking said locking means against movement, and a pin connected with said locking device for shifting the same intoits locking position, and means for operating said pin.

Signed at Nos. 9 to 15 Murray street, New York, N. Y., this 15th day of October, 1903.

HENRY l). I-llBBARD.

\Vitnesses:

J OHN O. SEIFERT, FRED. J. DoLu. 

